CHRISTIANITY AND WORLD RELIGIONSBillions
of people on this planet do not share the Christian faith.So what do they believe, and how can you
reach out to them?As a Christian, you
might feel a little intimidated and confused by beliefs that seem so different
from your own. This handout intends to help calm your fears and clear up the confusion on non-Christian
religions and their relationship with Christianity. Over
the next few pages, we will look at the significant notes of your group’s
research on Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Confucianism and Christianity. We hope you will learn more about these
religions and see what makes Christianity unique. And we hope you'll build friendships with
people of other faiths, if you haven't already. As you do, you'll have many opportunities to
show your friends – through your words and your actions - what being a Christian is all about.

BUDDHISMWhat's the main idea?About
five centuries before Jesus' birth, a prince named Siddhartha Gautama got sick
of his cushy life, left his family, and went out to seek enlightenment. After
about seven years of searching, meditating and self-denial, he decided he'd
found it. Gautama took the name Buddha, meaning "awakened one," and
began to teach followers how to become enlightened. Today, those followers
number more than 300 million.The
main belief in Buddhism is that everybody suffers. Everyone is trapped in a
life of physical and emotional pain, attached to material goods, and consumed
by unimportant things like entertainment or food. According to Buddhism, this
sort of existence is unavoidable unless one understands the Four Noble Truths,
which explain why people suffer, and the Eightfold Path, a more practical set
of guidelines for living. Only a person who accepts the Four Noble Truths and
follows the Eightfold Path can hope to achieve a state of non-existence called nirvana.
Since Gautama was a practicing Hindu before becoming Buddha, the concepts of
karma and samsara are important in Buddhism, as well. Although there are a
variety of texts in Buddhism, the Tripitaka is the oldest and historically the
most important. It includes the teachings of Buddha, oral traditions and the
Eightfold Path. Buddhism
comes in several different forms. Some Buddhists, for instance, have never
heard of the Four Noble Truths or the Eightfold Path, nor have any concept of
nirvana. And aside from these core values, Buddhists have many other different
beliefs. For example, some Buddhists offer prayers and sacrifices to Buddha,
hoping for his favor. Others think that with concentrated effort, anyone can
become a buddha. And while many Buddhists are actually atheists, some are
looking forward to a new Buddha, a kind of messiah, who will bring
enlightenment to the earth. Common ground with Christianity
When Buddhists talk about suffering, Christians know where they're coming from.
Jesus suffered one of the cruelest deaths imaginable. And as Christ's
followers, the apostle Peter tells us we should expect to suffer as well (1
Peter 4:12-13). Difference with ChristianityBuddhists
have little in common with Christians. While members of both faiths agree
there's real suffering in life, Buddhists believe they can end it through the
elimination of desire. Christians attempt to alleviate suffering where we can,
but we know we can't completely prevent it as long as there's sin in the world.
Suffering began when Adam and Eve sinned, and it won't end until Jesus comes
back. Also, as Christians, our ultimate goal isn't nirvana. It's a relationship
with a personal God and eventually a real existence with him in heaven. ISLAMWhat's the main idea?On
his many caravan rides along the trading route between Syria and Arabia, a
merchant named Muhammad observed people of all kinds of faiths. He became
increasingly concerned that people were straying from ethical and moral
responsibility. In A.D. 610, when Muhammed was 40 years old, the angel Gabriel
allegedly commanded him to become a prophet, calling people back to the truth.
The foundation of Islam was laid. Islam
is the second-largest religion in the world (after Christianity), claiming one
billion followers, called Muslims. The religion hangs on the phrase,
"There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet." Allah
(Arabic for "God") is alone to be worshiped. So it's a big mistake to
think Muslims view Muhammad the same way Christians view Jesus. Muhammad was
not a deity to be worshiped, but the last and greatest prophet—someone who
brought a perfect message from God. Muslims
aren't concerned as much about the right beliefs as they are about the right
actions. In "submitting to the will of God" (that's the meaning of
the word "Islam"), they stick to the Five Pillars, a set of important
requirements that includes regular charity, praying five times a day, and
making at least one hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca (Islam's holy city). In
addition to this, most Muslims devoutly refrain from alcohol, drugs, gambling
and certain foods such as pork. The Qur'an (or Koran), which Muslims believe is
the written recollection of the visions Muhammad received, is the most
important text, although our Old and New Testaments are also significant in
Islam. Common ground with ChristianityChristians
and Muslims share a lot of similar beliefs. For instance, Moses, Jacob and
David are influential in both faiths. And Muslims have enormous respect for
Jesus, seeing him as the second-greatest prophet. Muslims also believe in
Jesus' virgin birth and his miracles, even saying he's the Messiah. Difference with ChristianityMuslims
don't believe in Jesus' death and resurrection, and they consider the Christian
claim of Jesus' divinity blasphemous. In Islam, Muhammad is the greatest and
most authentic prophet. While they think highly of the Bible, Muslims think the
Qur'an is the true Word of God. Most significantly, the Christian concept of
grace is completely absent in Islam. Allah is relatively cold and removed, and
the principles of right and wrong, do's and don'ts, form the foundation of the
faith.

CONFUCIANISMWhat's the main idea?Confucianism,
as its founder taught, is not a religion in the traditional sense. It is an
ethical code. Chinese culture was steeped in the religion of animism, a belief
that gods and spirits dwell in natural formations. Along with an animistic
world view, there was a belief in ancestor worship. The spirits of the dead
needed to be honored and cared for by the living family members. However,
in his teachings, Confucius avoided spiritual issues. He can be categorized as
an agnostic who believed in spirits and the supernatural but was not interested
in them. He was humanistic and rationalistic in his outlook. "His position
on matters of faith was this: whatever seemed contrary to common sense in
popular tradition and whatever did not serve any discoverable social purpose,
he regarded coldly." (John Noss, Man's Religion, p. 392)The answer to the cultural and social
problems was found in humanity itself, not in anything supernatural.Confucianism preaches many good principles of
ethics. It is very adaptable and fluid in its structure.Common ground with ChristianityThe
Christian would find himself in agreement with many of Confucius' ethical
principals and virtues. A Christian would also agree with many of the character
qualities of the true gentleman and seek to develop those qualities.
(propriety, reverence, courtesy, ritual or the ideal standard of conduct /the virtue of goodness and benevolence
expressed through recognition of value and concern for others, no matter their
rank or class - Confucius summarizes the principle of Jen in this statement,
often called The Silver Rule: "Do not do to others what you would not like
them to do to you." (Analects 15:23; /self-respect, generosity, sincerity,
persistence, and benevolence.)Difference with ChristianityIn
contrast, Christianity is God-centered. It is built on a relationship with a
personal God who is involved in the world. Confucius focused on life here on
this earth. Jesus focused on life in eternity. For Jesus what happens in
eternity has ramifications for life here on earth. In Matthew 6:19 Jesus
stated, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves
treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not
break in and steal." Here we see the basically different perspectives of
Jesus and Confucius.HINDUISMWhat's the main idea?"Hinduism"
is a Western term (meaning "religion of the Indians") for a religious
culture that includes almost as many beliefs as gods. And some Hindu groups
claim to have 330 million gods! What unites Hindus is a common adherence to the
caste system—an arrangement that determines a person's social status—and
devotion to any number of deities and scriptures. Probably the most significant
gods (who are often viewed as three parts of one whole) are Brahma, the
creator; Vishnu, the preserver of that creation; and Shiva, known mainly as the
destroyer. The important texts in Hinduism include the Vedas (the earliest
writings) and the Bhagavad Gita (an epic poem).The
overriding concept in Hinduism is the unity of all life. In Hinduism there is
really only one divine essence or soul which encompasses the entire
universe—people, gods, nature and so on. A Hindu is trapped at a certain level
in the caste system in an endless process of life, death and rebirth
(reincarnation) called samsara. The sum of that person's good and bad
deeds is known as karma. The goal of life is to accumulate enough good
karma to climb the rungs of the caste system, escape samsara, and be absorbed
into the divine essence. This is a long process, typically taking several
lifetimes of good living. If a person has enough good karma at the end of his
life, he may be reincarnated in a higher caste level. And if someone's life is
marked by bad deeds, he may be reincarnated in a lower caste, or even as an
animal. Common ground with ChristianityHindus
claim Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are three gods sharing the same substance.This three-in-one idea isn't a foreign one to
Christians, since we understand God in terms of three persons: Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. And like Hindus, Christians believe practicing goodness is vital.Difference with ChristianityHindus
and Christians differ on many points. As Christians, we believe in only one
God—not 330 million. We see this earthly life as a prelude to a heavenly
existence, rather than one life in a cycle of many others. While Hindus think
each person is a part of one great soul or deity, Christians affirm the
identity of an individual soul in each person. Though Hindus tend to see deity
and the natural world as one and the same (pantheism), Christians make a strong
distinction between God and his creation. Finally, Christians view good works
as a result of salvation, not a karma-like road to salvation. JUDAISMWhat's
the main idea?Maybe
you've heard the verse, "Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is
one." That's Deuteronomy 6:4, and it's part of the Shema, a series of verses
(verses 4-9) that Orthodox Jews say every morning and evening. The Shema
reminds Jews to keep God's laws and pass them on from generation to generation.
It's an example of why Jews believe they are God's chosen people.Jews
believe God, who alone is to be worshiped, revealed himself in history through
prophets and promises a future messiah who will bring a reign of peace and
righteousness to the earth. They follow the sacred texts of the Tanakh and the
Talmud. The Tanakh is what we call the Old Testament. The Talmud is a huge
collection of laws, stories and commentary that guides Jews as they live out
their beliefs. But
not all Jews still follow the traditional texts and beliefs. One of the most
popular kinds of Judaism today is called Reform Judaism. Reformed Jews stick to
the ethics of traditional Judaism but no longer strictly follow the Scriptures.
They leave many of the laws up to personal interpretation. Conservative Judaism
is closer to traditional or Orthodox Judaism. This branch upholds most of the
Jewish law but also leaves room for current clothing and modern styles of
worship. Common ground with ChristianityBoth
Jews and Christians believe in one God (monotheism), and since we both say that
the Old Testament is true, it makes a good starting point for conversation.
People like Abraham, Moses and David are key figures for both faiths; the
stories of the Old Testament heroes are part of our common heritage. And, of
course, Jews and Christians share belief in a messiah. Difference with ChristianityBoth
Jews and Christians use the Old Testament, but Jews have a different take on
some of the same events. For instance, Adam's fall isn't so important to Jews.
And though we both look to a messiah, practicing Jews believe the Messiah is
still to come. As Christians, we believe the Messiah is Jesus Christ. Our
messiahs have different purposes, too. While the Jews believe the Messiah will
set up a kingly reign on earth and reunite Israel, we know Jesus as both the
king and the suffering servant (see Isaiah 53) who died on the cross. As
Christians, our hope is not just in this world, but in a future heaven with
Jesus.

What
now?
Now that you know something about world religions, you might think you're ready
to convince others to follow Jesus. But people rarely make life-changing
decisions based on facts alone. If Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and
Confucians are looking for spiritual truth, they won't be satisfied with
polished "right answers." Think
about your own faith. When you first became a Christian, you didn't have every
fact straight and every doubt figured out. If you're honest with yourself, you
probably still don't. And that's OK! Being a Christian isn't just about having
all the right answers. It's about having a relationship with Jesus and lovingly
inviting others to join in. The
best way to tell people of other religions about your faith isn't to blast them
with airtight proofs or tell them they're wrong. Instead, by showing them
long-lasting love—no strings attached—you'll prove you're more interested in
being friends than winning arguments. And you'll earn the right to be heard.